In what has become one of the event industry’s key ‘must attend’ events for sourcing speakers and event industry networking, May’s Breakfast Briefing of 2015 saw Kruger Cowne talents, former England football captain Sol Campbell and Executive Chef of the Belgraves Hotel Sophie Michell, take the stage at London’s Soho House to speak to an excited audience.

Discussing the art of competition, the speakers spoke candidly about their life on and off the pitch and outside the kitchen. With acclaimed footballer Sol Campbell establishing the need for individuals to think outside of the box when striving for success, both recognized the roles teamwork play in achieving your goals.

“It’s about partnerships around the pitch, you can’t be an individual in a team game”said Campbell.

Expressing how teamwork is an essential component in the kitchen also, Michell said “In terms of being a team player, a kitchen is very much like that… it’s very much a team game”.

Despite the need for teamwork, Michell shared her views on how the culinary world still has room for improvement, as the ratio of men to women on her team shows that there is a noticeable lack of female presence in high positions within the culinary world and in other industries in general.

Speaking on her own business challenges, Michell said, “No one who is successful has had a straight route to their goal…” As a woman who is one of a few executive chefs in the country, Michell’s journey exemplifies how women need to work just that bit harder to make it to the top and shows that there is a need to have more role models in the industry to inspire more young women.

Echoing Michell’s sentiments regarding equality, Campbell expressed the need for diversity in business and politics and how difficult it is to navigate your way to the top. “Being a footballer and fighting from the bottom to the top, I understand competition…there are a lot of pitfalls,” said Campbell.

To register to attend the next Kruger Cowne Breakfast Briefing on Monday 22nd June please e-mail Neftali at [email protected]